The Dillon tribune., 1887-10-14
1,eayerl, cad County OfRcers.
A SAFE TRACK.

A SAFE TRACK.
THE RISK OF RAILROAD MANAGE.
MENT 49, THE MAN ELEMENT.
The Machine Il Comparatively Safe. but
the Employs Il Frequently Careless.
Some of the Rules of Railroad Ein-
Observation-Disclosures.
at is II matter of grave surprise to me-"
said railroad magnate Of prominence, in
conversation with u reporter, 'that after
every accident Oh steam railways the peo-
pie raise !, clamor about that indefinite
and vague parsonage. the management,
instead of seeking out at once the intlivid
ual cmplOyc Of the company to whose
carelcssness, most probably, the mishap is
attributable. With very few exceptions,
railroads, in their own interest us yell as
the public's, take. every precautiOn for
the safety of passengers. The machinery
OF tho road can be kepJ in such " way as
to guard against accident to n reasonable
certainty. Metal works arc easily
managed; the great risk in the operation
of the railroad is the man element. The
nearer the man becomes an AutOmaton, or
like u machine, the safer he is. The
average human being in u subordinate or
lowly position is prone to do what he is
distinctly told not to do, and neglect to do
that which he is ordered to perform. AS
I said, man is the risky link, but without
him in the running Of u railroad it would
be impos ble to get along Ii we could
only get IL machine to take mans place
along the line would undertake to per-
sonally guarantee the safety of trains and
their passengers.
s'The nearer q railroad employe be-
comes q machine tho greater safety he
will prove to the railroad and his patrons.
The more devoid of vaulting ambition he
becomes the better he will be. You take
old conductors who have been in the SER
vice for years, who are perfectly satisfied
with their situations and tlO not aspire to
bc general manager of the road they
make the hest men for their places. They
do not think OF anything else, and that
makes them valuable as conductors.
From the standpoint of safety it's better
for u man not to think ut all, but to
blindly follow Instructions. Tho road
will advise him as to his duties, place him
in n rut and oil his joints with salary in
keeping with his place. When doing duty
for the railroad he has no business think
ing of anything else. His time is the
company's, and it. pays him for following
instructions.
"a good many people," continued the
railway man, do not understand that
the entire organization of railway is
framed with particular reference to the
safety Of the company's property and the
Ives of its patrons and employees. Let
me show you our instructions. All told,
they flll quite a large book. Moreover,
employees arc required to learn these regu-
lations. It. is as much their duty to
fAmiliarize themselves with them us it is
to be on hand ready to go to work ut the
hour appointed by their superiors. Rail.
road hands, rs " rule, arc not the most
highly educated men. ] would scarcely
care to hire II Harvard or Yale man for
switch service, or any job Of that kind.
In the first place, the college man would
spend too much time in thinking, instead
Of attending to business. The caliher of
our men il such, as rule, that it is not
only necessary to tell them what they
shall do, but also whit they shall not do.
1--WE start out by instructing them tn
take the safe side in cases Of the least u1l-
certainty. Take the case Of trackmen.
They arc specially instructed by their s,;.
periors to set 10 fires on windy days; u
leave no fire until they are sure it is ex-
tinguishcd; they must examine culverts,
bridges, rails, make all ncc;iful temporary
repairs. and instantly report anything be.
yond their capabilities. For the safe op.
GRAFTON of trains the r:,les are SO nun,er.
Gus that l can only mention Il few OF
them. Here is one which most peopl,
will be surprised ut. 1t reads:
'Trains are to he run under the ,iirec
lion of the conductor. except when his tii
rcctions conflict with train orders, thu
rules, or involve any risk or hazard, il
which event i; shall bc the duty Of an,
cmplOyc to call the attention of the con
luctor or engineer to the risk they take
and themselves ut once take such actor
rs will secure the safety Of persons ant
property committed to their charge; ant
II any employc shall neglect or refuse t,
call the attention of the conductor or CT,
gineer to the risk, or neglect 10 take sucl
action Immediately rs will secure tn,
safety Of persons and property, in cithe
of these cases all participators will he hel,
alike accountable
"Evcry passenger train running ut nigh
must display two. good red lights on tn
rear platform OF the rear car in the train
and it is the duty of the conductor an,
the rear brakeman to examine them frC
Quently to see that the lights burn clearly